Book 1: Missing Angel; Part 7

It was slightly more crazy, but from what he gathered, the information was accurate. He knew his real birthday, in September, that his parents had sold him to pay off their debts, his home state, where they lived. It was sad, but he had no desire to meet them, or any of his siblings. It was for the best if he stayed away.

“Did the voice tell you about this Max?” Nudge said, just up ahead.

“Kinda.”

“Great.” Iggy huffed. He didn’t seem too happy to be following the directions of the voice in Max’s head.

Fang was holding Digi’s hand tightly, making sure that he didn’t stray from the group. It felt kinda nice, and was especially reassuring considering he could barely see in the darkness.

Iggy was nearby, holding onto Fang’s belt loop. It seemed this was a common thing for the brooding teen to help him, so he wasn’t so bothered by their slow unsteady pace.

“Okay now the tunnel splits,” Max said, looking back to do another head count. “And we take the one with no tracks.” She stopped after another few minutes, and then found a grate in the floor. “It’s over here!”

Fang helped her and Iggy pull the grate up, the old rusty screws disintegrating. Down below was the sewer system.

“Here we go.” Max sighed, and lowered herself down inside.

Digi didn’t like the sewer system, and wrapped himself in his wings. He was shivering, and decided he needed a serious shower later. Fang held him a little closer, staying silent.

Max stopped them, and then gestured to a nearly invisible gray metal door. “We’re here, we made it.” She then immediately noticed the door was locked. “Iggy, I know you got your lock pick kit on you. You’re up.”

“Okay.” Iggy muttered, and then took about three minutes to unlock the door. Then he and Max gripped the edge of the door, no doorknob of course, and slowly opened it.

“A staircase leading down to a dark place? Oh, how nice.” Fang frowned. “You first Max.”

While descending, Fang led him and Digi up to the front. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

“We’re approaching our destination,” She replied, descending into the darkness. “We’re homing in on the answers we’ve dreamed about getting our whole lives.”

“We’re doing what your Voice has told us to do,” Fang sounded skeptical.

She was wary. “Yeah? The Voice has been okay so far, right?” She then stopped at the bottom of the staircase. “Here we are.” She felt around, before feeling a door. “Get ready Iggy, might need you.” She turned the knob, and it opened wide without noise.

The flock stepped into a lab with plush carpet.

“We’re in the institute.” Max said, breathless.

“Uhm… is that a good thing?” asked Gazzy, eyes darting around.

Digi swallowed. He’d felt like he’d been here before, and yet he couldn’t remember ever being here. Then again, a lot of his memories were hazy, so he couldn’t be sure. Then he stood stock still.

Nudge and Max were messing with a computer. Max was hurrying up and printing off as much information as possible.

He’d been here before. Just not on this side. “We need to leave. Now.”

Fang looked at him, confused. “We’re going, we just need this information.”

“No no, I’ve been here. They took me here a few times…” He started hyperventilating. “We need to leave.” He was staring at the large curtain covering an entire wall.

Gazzy had pulled it to the side, and had gone silent. Then he pulled the whole curtain.

It was full of cages, lots of them, with small child forms. Mutants, all of them.

Digi’s pupils dilated, and he took a wide step back. Blurry memories of being strapped to a chair, testing to see which drugs would finally work on him. His eyes being forced open and being made to watch ‘calming’ material. “No no no, we need to leave, now now now! No more drugs! Stop!”

Fang was by his side in an instant, trying to get him to quiet down. “What did they do to you?”

“They never hurt me, but I really, really wish they did,” He replied, shaking.

Max swallowed. Digi’s reaction to this place made her clench her hands into fists. “Start popping latches,” She whispered to Iggy who spread the word quietly. Soon enough, all the mutant children were freed.

They were all shaking and afraid, but one, a small bird girl like the rest of them, was able to speak. “I don’t know who you all are, or why, but thank you.”

Max nodded. “Of course. Alright, everyone, we’re leaving.”

“This way this way…” Nudge said, as the flock led everyone out.

“Where are we?” Asked the bird girl. She looked about the same age as Gazzy. Maybe a little younger.

“Sewer system, under a big city,” Max said quickly. “On our way out to fresh air and sunlight.”

“But not just yet,” Ari hissed from behind. “First we need to chat, Maximum. You and I. For old times’ sake.”

Max made a motion with her hands, motioning for everyone to go ahead. She kept Ari busy.

Fang grabbed Digi’s hand and led the mutant children out, racing ahead of the group. They ran as fast as they could, until finally they emerged into the open dark street.

“I’ll take them from here.” Said the bird girl, cradling one of her mutant siblings. “I know you saved us, but it’s better if we split.”

“You sure? They might hunt you down.” Fang tilted his head.

“That bad guy, he’s chasing you. I don’t want to be chased with you.”

Digi nodded in understanding. “Stay safe.”

“You too. I’m glad you escaped too… those white coat guys never left you alone.” Bird girl said sadly. “You can come with us.”

He shook his head. “I’d like to stay with the flock.”

“Bye bye nine.”

Digi frowned, watching her gather the group disappear into the night. “I thought I didn’t have a number…” He said, confused. “I hate this… why is my mind all scrambled…”

“We’ll figure it out. There has to be a reason.” Fang replied. After a few minutes the rest of the flock joined them.

“Where are the other kids?” Max asked, looking shaken and restless.

“Girl with the wings took them. Didn’t wanna stay or take no for an answer. Sound familiar?”

Max rolled her eyes, perking up slightly. “Let’s just… walk. And keep walking.”

The flock got going, and Digi was glad that Fang hadn’t mentioned what she had said before leaving. They held hands tightly, both deep in thought. They arrived at Battery Park, hiding in overgrown greenery.

Apparently, Angel had kept one of the mutants, a small dog.

“Angel, explain the dog.” Max said firmly, she was still tense, but was trying to keep it together.

“He’s my dog, from the institute.”

Fang gave Max a hard look, and she sighed.

“Angel, we cannot keep him with us.”

Digi was still shaking from earlier, flashes of memories appearing in his mind. Several IV’s up his arms—

He shook his head, if he thought about it too hard, he’d be upset. They made camp at Staten Island, and apparently the dog’s name was Total and was here to stay.

Max and the flock were looking through the print outs of pages, and discovering that maybe, just maybe, they had real parents.

“Hey Digi, these are your parents—“ Max held out the papers, and then was shocked as he took them and ripped them in half. Then quarters, and then into little confetti pieces.